Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The section deals with the transfer of land and other property to the Minister. While Sinn Féin agrees in principle with the transfer back under the aegis of the Department of the role of the Civil Defence Board, there should be no diminution of the resources available, including staffing. It is important, because much of the work is voluntary and is done in reaction to crises in many cases, that, for example, plant and machinery available to those on the ground be updated on a regular basis in order that they have the equipment they need. Given that this role will be vested in the Minister, I call on the Minister of State to reaffirm that proper resources will continue to be made available under the new set-up. If anything is surplus to requirements, we would not have an issue with redeployment within the State for the benefit of citizens but it needs to be ensured these men and women who give such wonderful service have the resources they need to their work properly, safely, efficiently and in a regionalised and localised way.